Foldable golf practice swing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Two spaced columns rise from a planar base to which they are pivotally secured and terminate in a second pivot linking a support arm adjustably extending from the columns. A bearing reversibly mounted on the support arm carries a target rod which in operation extends toward the planar base. A brake pad is biased against the bearing. A retainer at the end of the target rod carries a target ball. The apparatus folds for transport.

Armando E. Acosta, Los Angeles, Calif.

Abner J. Martinson, Redondo, Calif.

Filed: Apr. 15, 1974 App]. No.: 460,872

Inventor:

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1961 Bales 273/26 E UnitedStates Patent [1 1 [111 3,851,886 Acosta Dec. 3, 1974 FOLDABLE GOLFPRACTICE SWING 3,262,703 7/1966 Hodlick 273/58 c x APPARATUS 3,731,9265/1973 Vincent 273/200 B Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Wm. Jacquet Gribble.

[5 7] ABSTRACT Two spaced columns rise from a planar base to which theyare pivotally secured and terminate in a second pivot linking a supportarm adjustably extending from the columns. A hearing reversibly mountedon the support arm carries a target rod which in operation extendstoward the planar base. A brake pad is biased against the bearing. Aretainer at the end of the target rod carries a target ball. Theapparatus folds for transport.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEL SEC 3 974 SHEEF 10? 2 I PATENTELDEB 3 4 SHEEF 2 0F 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the Figures aplanar base 11 which may havev di-The invention relates to devices for practicing golf mensions of 18inches by 24 inches is covered with an swings, such as drives from thetee and iron shots from the fairway. Several devices of this type havebeen marketed and patented, but each of the prior devices has had one ormore drawbacks. Exemplary of the previously patented devices are thefollowing US. Pat. Nos.:

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention contemplates a golf swingpractice apparatus which comprises a substantially planar base, a pairof spaced columns which rise from the base and a first pivot to securethe columns adjustably to the base. A second pivot at the end of thespaced columns remote from the base adjustably secures a support arm.Locking means and the second pivot adapt the support arm to extend fromthe spaced columns at a selected angle thereto. A target rod attaches toa bearing on the support arm such that the rod may swing with respect tothe support arm. A retainer at the end of the target rod receives atarget ball. By the locking means the orientation of the target ballabove the planar base may be altered to conform to the particular typeof swing the user wishes to practice by raising or lowering the targetball with respect to base surface. Preferably, the bearing on thesupport arm and the target rod are removable and reversible as a unitsuch that the target ball may be driven either clockwise orcounterclockwise when the user is facing the spaced columns across thetarget ball. In a preferred embodiment springloaded brake means inhibitrotating motion of the target rod about the bearing.

The apparatus of the invention is adjustable for different swingpractice, assumes either right or left-hand orientation and folds fortransport.

These and other advantages of the invention are apparent from thefollowing detailed description and drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an end elevation, partlybroken away, of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. I; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view to a lesser scale of the embodiment of FIG. 1folded for transport.

artificial turf sheet 12. A plurality of screws 13 secure a base plate14 to one side of the planar base at each of the plate corners.

In each of the planar base corners a grommet l7 affords means for groundspikes (not shown) to pass through the planar base and secure the basein place at the practice site. Obviously the device can also be used ina commodious interior without the spikes. As can be best seen from FIG.3, a mounting tongue 19 rises centrally from the base plate. A pair ofspaced columns 21, 22 are secured to the tongue by a threaded member 23which has a fastening nut 24 at one end and an integral cylindrical head25 at the other. Diametrically opposed manipulating handles 26extendfrom the head. Preferably the bottom portion of column 21 isrecessed at 27 to seat fastening nut 24 such that it does not turn whenfastener 23 is turned.

From the pivot defined by fastener 23, the spaced columns rise to asecond pivot means comprised of a hex head threaded fastener 28 having ashank extending through each of the columns and terminating in a nut 31.The shank pivotally supports a support arm 33 having a spacer boss 34, athin extension 35 and a cylindrical head 36. Threaded fasteners 38, 39pass through opposite ends of a pair of adjustable braces 41, 42 whichadjustably secure support arm 33 at the desired angle with respect tothe substantially vertical spaced columns 21, 22.

Fastener 39 passes through holes (not shown) in the braces and througharm extension 35 adjacent cylindrical head 36 terminating in a nut 40.Fastener 38 passes through the intermediate portion of each of thecolumns 21, 22 and through a longitudinal elongate slot 44 in the lowerend of each of the adjustable braces 41, 42. The lower ends areseparated by a hollow spacer 45. As is apparent from FIG. I, theattitude of support arm 35 with respect to the columns may be changed byloosening fasteners 38 and 39 and adjusting the positions of theelongate slots of braces 41, 42 with respect to fastener 38.

Support arm 35 terminates away from the columns 21, 22 in a threadedstud 46 to which a bearing 47 is secured by a nut 48. The bearing mayhave an outer race 49 to which a target rod 51 is secured by convenientmeans. One such means is to braze a threaded nut 52 to the periphery ofthe race and secure therein a threaded portion 53 of the target rod.

As can best be seen by FIGS. 2 and 3, the target rod has a transverseball retainer 55 having a ball-receiving cup 56. A stop nut 57 and itsattendant washer 58 locate the cup on the transverse extent of thethreaded ball retainer. A target ball 59 is secured in the cup to theretainer.

The target ball may be a conventional or solid state golf ballthreadably engaged with the transverse ball retainer 55. A rim 61 of thecup is proportioned such that the ball, standard in size, makestangential contact therewith so the force applied to the ball by a golfclub is in part absorbed by the cup. Obviously, various substitutematerials may be used to provide a target ball giving substantially thesame impact effect as a conventional golf ball.

It has been found that a conventional steel roller skate wheel providesall the characteristics necessary for the bearing 47 with the target rodsecured to the periphery of the bearing and the transverse ball retainer55 oriented in the plane of rotation of the bearing. The device may beconverted from a practice device for a right-hand player to a practicedevice for a left-hand player by simply removing nut 48 and reversingthe bearing and target rod on the stud 46.

Normally the velocity imparted to the ball upon impacting it with a clubcauses rotation about the axis of the support arm which might continuefor some time, thus limiting the amount of time that could be spent inpractice. It is therefore desirable that the rotation of the bearing andtarget rod be inhibited. The invention provides for such inhibition bymeans of a springloaded brake. The brake comprises a mounting tab 63depending from the cylindrical head 36 and a pivot pin 64 extendingthrough the tab and an L-shaped brake member 65 having a plurality ofpivot pin holes 66 spaced along one arm of the L. An extension spring 67is attached to a second depending tab 68 at one end and through one ofthe brake member apertures 66 at the other end. The extension springbiases a brake pad 69 against a side wall 71 of the bearing outward ofthe bearing hub. The amount of bias is adjustable by changing theposition of the extension spring end to another of the various holes 66in the arm of the brake member. The rotation of the bearing and thetarget rod around the axis of the support arm is thereby restrainedReferring again to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the position of targetball 59 above turf surface 12 may be altered in different ways. It ispossible by sole adjustment of support braces 41, 42 to either raise orlower the ball with respect to the surface. Alternatively, the positionof the ball with respect to surface 12 may be changed by loosening firstpivot 23 by manipulation of cylindrical head 25 to alter the verticalattitude of columns 21, 22.

The position of the ball with respect to the edge 72 of the planar basemay be changed by utilizing both adjustments simultaneously, therebymaintaining the desired vertical attitude of the ball with respect tosurface 12. The placement of the ball with respect to the toes of theplayer may thus be adjusted such that the player need never stand on theplanar base 11.

FIG. 4 illustrates the attitude of the apparatus of the invention whenthe apparatus is folded either for transport to and from the practicesitus or for shipping. By loosening pivots 23 and 28 and disengagingfastener 39 from the braces and support arm, the columns 21, 22 and thesupport arm may be brought into relatively linear alignment and thesupport columns folded toward the planar base. Rotation of the bearingand target rod with respect to the support arm axis enables the bearingto be lowered to the level of the turf surface 12 while the target rodextends substantially parallel to that surface at right angle to thecolumns. The effective height of the apparatus is thereby considerablyreduced from its practice attitude, accommodating transport inrelatively small space. The grommets l7 afford easy fastening of theapparatus to a solid surface by means of conventional spikes (notshown). The proportions of the planar base make it easy to employ thebase as a lever to lift any of the corner spikes from the sod,

While the specification and drawing employ a single embodiment toillustrate theinvcntion, many alternate embodiments and modificationswill occur to those skilled in this art. It is therefore desired thatthe scope of the invention be measured by the appended claims ratherthan by the purely illustrative embodiment disclosed herein.

I claim:

1. A golf swing practice device comprising a substantially planar base,a pair of spaced columns extending from the base, first pivot meanssecuring the columns to the base, second pivot means at the end of thecolumns remote from the base, a support arm secured by the second pivotmeans and adapted to extend from the spaced columns at an angle thereto,means for locking the support arm at a selected angle to the spacedcolumns, a bearing on the support arm, a target rod fixed to the bearingso as to extend away from the support arm, a target ball retainer at anend of the target rod, and a target ball fixed to the retainer.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first pivot meanscomprises a base plate, an upstanding tongue and means adapted toreleasably secure the spaced columns to the tongue.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for locking thesupport arm comprises a pair of spaced braces adjustably secured to thespaced columns, and means releasably securing the braces to the supportarm.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein the means adjustablysecuring the braces is removable, and the support arm and the columnsare movable to a position substantially parallel to the planar base whenthe first and second pivot means are loosed.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1 further com prising a brakeinhibiting rotating motion of the target rod about the bearing.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein the brake comprises abrake arm pivoted from the support arm, a lever extending from the brakearm, a spring secured to the lever biasing the brake against thebearing, and a brake pad on the brake arm adapted to bear against thebearing mount.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein the lever arm comprisesan extending portion, and spring retaining means spaced at intervalsfrom the brake arm pivot point at the support arm.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the bearing is reversibleon the support arm such that the target rod ball retainer is re-orientedwith respect to the planar base to present the target ball at the planarbase for either right and left-handed users.

1. A golf swing practice device comprising a substantially planar base, a pair of spaced columns extending from the base, first pivot means securing the columns to the base, second pivot means at the end of the columns remote from the base, a support arm secured by the second pivot means and adapted to extend from the spaced columns at an angle thereto, means for locking the support arm at a selected angle to the spaced columns, a bearing on the support arm, a target rod fixed to the bearing so as to extend away from the support arm, a target ball retainer at an end of the target rod, and a target ball fixed to the retainer.
 2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first pivot means comprises a base plate, an upstanding tongue and means adapted to releasably secure the spaced columns to the tongue.
 3. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for locking the support arm comprises a pair of spaced braces adjustably secured to the spaced columns, and means releasably securing the braces to the support arm.
 4. A device in accordance witH claim 3 wherein the means adjustably securing the braces is removable, and the support arm and the columns are movable to a position substantially parallel to the planar base when the first and second pivot means are loosed.
 5. A device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a brake inhibiting rotating motion of the target rod about the bearing.
 6. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein the brake comprises a brake arm pivoted from the support arm, a lever extending from the brake arm, a spring secured to the lever biasing the brake against the bearing, and a brake pad on the brake arm adapted to bear against the bearing mount.
 7. A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein the lever arm comprises an extending portion, and spring retaining means spaced at intervals from the brake arm pivot point at the support arm.
 8. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the bearing is reversible on the support arm such that the target rod ball retainer is re-oriented with respect to the planar base to present the target ball at the planar base for either right and left-handed users. 